Mabuhay Pacquiao!

As I rushed to downtown San Diego to meet some friends at a trendy bar to watch the Pacquiao-Hatton mega fight this last weekend, all I could think about how that first Guinness was going to taste as soon as it touched my lips.

Not only was I drinking the Irish malt blend because it is my all time favorite alcoholic brew but it is also Hatton’s and I was downing more than one in honor of the “Hitman”.

It turned out I downed more than one in sorrow.

It is very hard to root against Pacquiao, not only has he proven his mettle even before his destruction of the Mancurian Hatton in two devastating rounds, but the Filipino wundekind is a very nice person.

I met him here in San Diego back in ’07 when Top Rank was promoting his bout against Jorge “Coloradito” Solis who Pacquiao stopped in eight rounds in San Antonio, TX. Top Rank hosted a very informal press conference at an Old Town restaurant. Since only press was invited, the turn out was very small with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. getting most of the attention since he was also featured on the card.

By that time, Pacquiao had already defeated Erik Morales twice and suffered a loss to him. He had also beaten Oscar Larios, Hector Velazquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and had drawn with Juan Manuel Marquez after dropping him three times in the first round.

He entered the restaurant with a very small entourage compared to the crowd that is now “Team Pacquiao”. No Freddy Roach in tow and no Mercedes Benz in the parking lot.

Just Pacquiao.

I saw in his eyes a genuine happiness and a true willingness to please.

I had the honor to interview him while he enjoyed some enchiladas and I really liked the man.

Last year in March I covered the post fight press conference for his second fight with Juan Manuel Marquez which he won via split decision in Las Vegas, NV. Despite he had knocked out Solis and beat Marco Antonio Barrera again since we last shared common space and his fame was beginning to skyrocket, Pacquiao was the same humble and considerate human being that I spoke to that afternoon back in Old Town.

So as he connected that devastating left hook that sent Hatton sprawling against the canvas for the third and final time and one of my twenty dollar bills into the hands of my cousin, I didn’t feel that bad for the loss of my pick and my funds.

Now with his most recent win over the previously unbeaten at jr. welterweight Ricky Hatton, Pacquiao is undeniably the pound for pound king even if the previous holder of that title Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced his return for July 18th.

The two common opponents they share, Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton, Pacquiao finished off quicker and ions more spectacularly.

Now as Mayweather prepares to take on Juan Manuel Marquez at a catch weight of 143 lbs, give or take a pound, Pacquiao will sit on his laurels and await the winner of that bout.

Or really go for broke and go for one of the Klitschko brothers….